Drainage of steam chambers



ug c. H. ATKlNs DRAINAGE OF STEAM CHAMBERSv Filed May 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

2 1927 1637327 Aug c. H. ATKlNs DRAINAGE oF STEAM cHAMBERs Filed May 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'f illustration only.

Patented Aug. 2, "1927.

lUNITED STATES CHARLES H. ATKINS, OF PALMER, MASSACHUSET'ls.

DRAINAGE OF STEAM CAMBERS.

` Application mea Maya,

This invention relates to an improved apparatus and process for the drainage of steam chambers and the like, and has particular reference to improved means for removing by the steam pressure in the drum the condensed steam, water, air and other noncondensable gases. The invention is particularly applicable to steam chambers or drums, such as the drying cylinders of slasher 'and similar machines.

The,t principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for exhausting by its own steam pressure the'condensed steam, water, air and other non-condensable gases from a rotary steam chamber withoutv the undue loss of steam therefrom.v v

Another object of the invention is to pro- A vide automatic exhaust means that will exhaust the water; air and other non-condensable gases from steam drums which at the same time will prevent the loss of steam from the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide steam tight water and air exhausting means in a machine of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved-means for insuring a uniform and higher temperature throughout the steam chamber of such a machine.

A further object is to provide an improved revo-lving exhaust joint or valve that is steam tight, simple, eiiicient and economical in construction and which may be easily taken apa-rt for inspection or repair.

Other objects and advantages of 4the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. that many changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction and arrangements shown, the preferred forms having been shown by way of Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fra entary perspective view of a Slasher mac ine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cros Scton It is apparentl 1927. Serial No. 188,378.

through the central shaft of the said maf' chine.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation partially in section showing steam supply and moisture exhaust.

rIhis invention is particularly designed for large rotary steam drying cylinders of drums for slashing machines in which the end walls of the cylinders or drums are reinforced by tie rods or the like running longitudinally of the cylinder fromone side wall to the other to prevent bursting of the cylinderwhen under steam pressure.

, These tie rods have proved annoying as they prevented the use of stationary drain or exhaust pipes within the steam chamber and in most cases required the use of buckets or the like to dip up the condensed steam or water as the cylnders rotated. The discharge from the steam chamber was through a hollow shaft. Thesel buckets did not furnish an escape for air and other undesirable non-condensable gases and were very unsatisfactory as the water, air and other noncondensable gases constantly decreased the heat at the base of the cylinder and thereby prevented 'a uniform temperature in the chamber and decreased production by reason of the decreased temperature. This construction also required a great amount of time in reheating the cylinders when starting the machine as the buckets would not function until the-cylinders were rotated and thereby required an excessive amount of time in removing thewater formed by the condensed steamin the drums when the machine was stopped. i

The present invention overcomes these difculties by providing drain or exhaust pipes within the steam chamber having connection withy a steam tight joint or valve outlet that may be rotated with the cylinder or dru1n,' and which intermittently allows the escape or exhaust from the steam chamber of water,

air and other non-condensable gases through i the force of steam which iS Constantly forced valve 1 having the valve seat 2 in the hous-v- -ing 3- located on the outside of the cylinder or drum 4 and secured to the fiange 5 on the bearing 6 mounted on the end of the cylinder support shaft 7 by the bolts or the like 8. Suitable bolts 9 are used to secure the housing 3 to the outer shouldered portion 10 of the bearings 6 s0 that it will rotate about the steam slide valve 1 when the cylinder is rotated.` The steam slide vvalve l is held against rotation by the exhaust drain pipe 11 to which it is secured and is formed with a single port or opening 12 adapted to communicate with the openings 13 formed in the housing 3 and in the head 0r diaphragm plate 14 which is positioned in the end of the bearing 6 and adapted to seal the hollowed end 15 of the shaft 7 in which the drain or exhaust pipes 15 are positioned. The drain or exhaust pipes 15 are threadedly connected at 17 in alignment with the openings 13 and terminate at 18 near the inside circumference or periphery 19 of the drum, there being three of these pipes 16. and consequently three openings 13 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The head or diaphragm plate 14 is provided with a central opening 2O terminating in the chamber 21 in which steam may pass to provide continual pressure of the steam slide valve 1 on 'the valve seat 2 so as to prevent the escape of steam around the valve seat during the use of the machine. Steam is admitted to the drum 4 from a suitable source of supply by means of the pipe 35 which communicates with the hollow shaft 36 on which the drum 4 rotates and which.

has the openings 37 for admission of the steam to the interior ofthe drum.

Fig. 5 sh'ows a modification in which the steam slide valve 1 is formed with the enlarged hollow chamber 22 positioned in thc housing 3 which is secured as in Fig. 2 on the outside of the cylinder 4. The enlarged chamber 22 is provided with the port or opening 12 communicating with the openings 13 in the head or diaphragm plate 14 which in this instance forms the seat 2 for the slide valve 1. A coil spring 23 exerts pressure on the enlarged shoulder of the chamber 22 to urge the end of the chamber against the valve seat 2 to prevent the escape of steam from the joint while at the same time provision is made for free rotation of the cylinder and parts carried thereby. A suitable packing ring 24 may also be used 'to prevent the escape of steam at the outer end of the chamber member 22. Increased pressure of the spring may be obtained b v adjustment of the sleeve 25 by means of the bolts or the like 26.

In operation live steam is forced into the continuously rotating cylinder or drum 4 so that a temperature of approximately say 240 degrees may be maintained. During the rotation of the cylinder or drum 4 the diaphragm plate 14 and the pipes 16 which are in fixed relation thereto are carried about and rotated with the cylinder. At each revolution of the cylinder a passageway or, opening 13 for the outward flow or exhaust of water, air and other non-condensable gases from the interior of the drum to the drain pipe 11 is opened through the registeringof one of the openings 13 with the port or opening 12. It will be noted that the exhaust passageway from the-interior of the drum to the drain pipe 11 is opened when one of the inner ends 18 of the pipes 16 is at its lowermost position in the drum bv reason of which the water of condensation, air and other non-condensable gases will surround the end 18 and while in this position the pressure of the steam from within the cylinder or drum will force the water, air and other non-Condensable gases which have collected at the bottom of the drum up through the pipe 16 and through the openings 13 and 12 into the drain 1l. It will be noted that the presence of the passageway 12 in alignment with the path of rotation of the three openings 13 is formed so that there will be three distinct exhaust discharges of water, etc., at each revolution of 'the drum. .The timing and extent of exhaustion is controlled bv the size of openings that are used and the speed at which the cylinder is rotated.

The arrows 27 indicate the position or location of the drain pipes 16 and when pointing downward indicate that the valve is opened so as to allow exhaustion of water. etc., from the steam chamber of the cylinder. When adjusted to this position with an arrow pointing downward the cylinders mav be heated withina few minutes prior to starting the machine through the direct and continuous exhaustion of cold air, water, etc., from the steam chamber.

Slasher machines are used for drying the warp used for weaving cloth after it is -starched In the old machines, as stated hereinabove, the water has 'been removed by buckets, but the air and other non-condensable gases being heavier than the steam remain at the bottom of the drum, preventing it from reaching the maximum temperature of the steam inthe interior. In the present invention my stationary steam slide valve 1 is located on the outside of the drum and OCts with a valve seat 2 secured to the of the shaft having ports leading into the `drum using pipes that terminate close :to the inside circumference or periphery of `"fthe drum.

stationary while all the other parts revolve lil' The steam slide valve 1 is held port, cuts in and opens the next successively.

Fig-2 shows the stationary steam slide valve held against the face of the revolving valve seat by steam pressure and Fig. 5 by spring pressure.

From the foregoing it will be seen that' I have provided simple, efficient and economi- .cal means Well adapted to carry' out the objects of the invention.

' Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In a device of the character described,

a. shaft having a chamber adjacent one end thereof, asteam drumon andrevolvable with the shaft, means for introducing steam into the drum, a diaphragm plate closing the end ofthe chamber in the shaft and having a pluralitv of openings therethrough, a pipe secured in each opening of the diaphragm plate and terminating in an open end adjacent the periphery of the drum, a tubular slide valve having an opening aligned with the open'- ings in the diaphragm plate, a valve seat for the tubular valve andA means for pressing the valve against the valve seat to prevent escape of steam from around the valve.

2. In a device of the character described, a shaft having a chamber adjacent one end thereof, a steam drum on and revolvable with the shaft, means for introducing steam into the drum, a diaphragm plate closingl the end of the chamber in the shaft and having a central opening and a plurality of openings therethrough intermediate theedge and center, a pipe secured in each 'of the intermediate openings of the diaphragm plate and terminating in an open end adjacent the periphery of the drum, a tubular, slide valve having an opening aligned with the intermediate openings of the diaphragm plate, and a valve seatfor the tubular valve, said valve being pressed against the valve seat by means of the steam tfrom the drum acting on the valve through the central opening in the diaphragm plate.

3. In a device of the character described, a shaft having a chamberadjacent one end thereof, a steam drum on and revolvable with the shaft, means for introducing steam into the drum, a diaphragm plate closing the endA of the chamber in the shaft and having a plurality of openings therethrough, a pipe secured in each of the openings in the dia,

phragm plate and terminating in an open end adjacentv the periphery of the drum, a tubular slide valve having an opening aligned with the openings ,in the diaphragm plate, a valve seat for the tubular valve, an exhaust pipe communicating with the tubular/valve, and means for pressing the tubular valve against the valve seat to prevent escape of steam around the valve.

4. In a device of the character described. a shaft having a chamber adjacent one end thereof, a steam drum -on and revolvable with the shaft, means for introducing steam into the drum, a diaphragm plate closing the end of the chamber in the shaft and having a plurality of openings therethrough, a pipe secured in each opening of the diaphragm plate and terminating in Van open end adjacent the periphery of the drum and a tubular slide valve having an opening aligned with the openings in the diaphragm plate, said opening in the Valve being so located that when-'the open end of a'pipe is in its lowest position in the drum it will align with one of the openings in the diaphragm plate whereby the pressure of the steam in the drum will force the Water in the lower part of the drum through the pipe having the lowest. position in the drum and thence through the aligned openings in the diaphragmplate and the valve to exhaust the water through the valve.

5. In adevice of the character described, a shaft having a chamber adjacent one end thereof, a steam drum on and revolvable with the shaft, means for introducing steam into the drum, a diaphragm plate closing one end 'of the chamber in the shaft and having a plurality of openings therethrough, a pipe secured in each opening in the diaphragm plate and terminating in an open end adjacent the periphery of the drum, a tubular y slide valve having an opening aligned with the openings in the diaphragm plate, a valve seat, means for pressing the valve against the valve seat, and an exhaust pipe communicating with the tube of the tubular valve whereby there will be an open communication from the open end of the lowest pipe in the drum, through the pipe, and aligned openings ofthe diaphragm plate and the tubular space in the valve to the exhaust pipe, the steam pressure in the drum forcing the water through the pipe and its communicating openings.

6. In a device of the character described, a shaft, a steam drum on and revolvable with the shaft, means for introducing steam in the drum, a diaphragm plate aligned with the shaft and having a plurality of openingsV therethrough, a pipe in each opening of the diaphragm plate and having an open end adjacent the peripher of the drum, and a valve having a sing e opening aligned with the openings in the diaphragm plate and so positioned that when one of the pipes is in its lowest position in the drum the valve opening will align with one of the diaphragm openings and allow the steam in the drum to force the water in the lower part of the drum up through the pipe and out through the aligned openings of the valve and diaphragm plate.

7. In a device of the character described,

' a shaft, astcam drum on and revolvable with.

the shaft, means for introducing steam into the drum, a diaphragm plate aligned with the end of the shaft, revolvable therewith and having a plurality of openings therethrough, a pipe in each opening of the diaphragm plate and having an open end adjacent the periphery of the drum, a tubular valve having a single opening aligned with the openings in the diaphragm plate and so positioned that when one of the pipes is in its lowest position in the drum the valve opening will align with one of the diaphragm openings and allow the steam in the drum to force the water at the bottom of the drumup through the pipe and out of the ali ed openings of the valve and diaphragm p ate, a valve seat for the valve, and means to press the valve on the seat to prevent vescape of steam around the valve.

8. In a device of the character described, a a shaft, asteam drum on and revolvable with the shaft, means for introducing steam into the drum, a diaphragm plate aligned with the end of the shaft, revolvable therewith and having a plurality of openings therethrough, a pipe in each opening of the diaphragm plate and having an open end adjacent the periphery ofthe drum, a tubular valve having a single opening aligned with the openings in the diaphragm plate and so positioned that when one ot' the pi es is in its lowest position in the drum tie valve opening will align with one of the diaphragm openings and allow the steam in the drum to force the water at the bottom of the drum up through the pipe and out of the aligned openings of the valve and diaphragm plate, a valve scat for the valve, means to press the valve on the scat to prevent escape of steam around the valve, and an exhaust pipe communicating with the tube in the tubular valve.

CHARLES H. ATKINS. 

